Tipzy's owner Claudia Moreno (right) and her partner Angelina Ybarra operate Tipzy's Tacos and Beer, located at 920 E. Olive Ave. Photo by Ben Hensley

The Tower District’s food scene will introduce a new flavor this weekend with the grand opening of Tipzy’s Tacos and Beer Saturday at 8 a.m.

Located at 920 E. Olive Ave., Tipzy’s is the second restaurant opened by Claudia Moreno, who also owns the original Tipzy’s located nearby at 3848 E. Belmont Ave.

Moreno said the newest location will allow her to focus on traditional Mexican food, with the restaurant featuring home-made tortillas and salsa, as well as high-quality meats and ingredients.

Moreno, who has DJ’d in the Central Valley for 20 years, hung up the turntables last September to focus on the new project, as well as convert the former Tipzy’s Tacos and Beer on Belmont into Tipzy’s Burgers and Beer.

Moreno said that, despite trying to distance herself from her DJ name, the name Tipzy’s Tacos and Beer rang too well to pass up.

“I go by DJ Tipzy; that’s where the name came from,” Moreno said. “I didn’t want people to be like ‘Oh, it’s just a bar,’ because our emphasis is food – good quality Mexican food – but it just rang. Tipzy’s Tacos and Beer had a really good ring.”

She was given the opportunity to open the second store thanks largely to the success of Tipzy’s original Belmont location; the Olive location’s owner was convinced to give Moreno a shot by his brother, a patron at the Belmont Tipzy’s.

The original Tipzy’s, which opened in 2019 prior to the pandemic, took its toll economically on Moreno, costing her $20,000 and causing her to max out her credit cards.

Moreno said that despite the restaurant’s success, she did not want to be in debt again.

While the pandemic brought with it challenges and tragic stories of failing businesses, it also brought with it stories of business success.

After initially refusing to apply for loans out of the concern of incurring more debt, Moreno said the extension of the pandemic changed her mind.

“When they said they may extend the pandemic, that’s when I applied for a business loan,” she said. “When I tried to open Belmont I couldn’t get a loan to save my life.”

The loan was able to cover the complete renovation of the building, the addition of a kitchen and patio area, and the decoration and preparation of the restaurant.

Now covered in bright murals and paintings, Tipzy’s Tacos and Beer hopes to maintain some of the flair of its Belmont location, as well as build itself around music and entertainment – a staple from Moreno’s DJing career.

Tipzy’s will feature nightly karaoke from 5 to 9 p.m., as well as karaoke brunch on Sundays. They will also feature on-tap beer, posole and menudo, weekend brunch and the homemade salsas, tortillas, entrees and appetizers.

“We’re going to be the only place in Tower where you can actually order a tortilla with butter as an appetizer – amazing too, by the way,” she said.

Tipzy’s will also feature a seafood menu – a first for the Tower District, according to Moreno.

Moreno, a member of the LGBTQ community, said that the reception and recognition in Tower District is something that matters a lot to her.

“Being around our LGBT community and being able to support that and giving them somewhere and another option to go was really important to us,” she said. “We cater to everybody. Doesn’t matter your nationality, your background or who you love; we’re here to support everybody.”

Tipzy’s Tacos and Beer will celebrate its grand opening this Saturday at 8 a.m., and will initially be open Thursday through Monday from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.